Paternity Test – Reunite with your Adopted Child
A DNA paternity test can help to match you with an adopted child.
Adoption is a sensitive topic for those involved. From a child given up early in its life to a biological father who just discovered he has a child he never knew about, the whole issue is delicate and requires careful consideration before taking any action such as a paternity test.
Paternity test - the child
When a child learns that they are adopted their natural reaction is to learn more about their natural parents, which you are legally free to do if over the age of eighteen (sixteen if you live in Scotland). For many this begins with tracing your birth and adoption records, which are not always easy to get hold of and may involve frustration and long periods of waiting while organisations get back to you with relevant information.
There are occasions where your natural parents may not accept that you are related to them, which is when you might ask them to take a maternity or paternity test so that there is no doubt who your biological parents are. You will need to be prepared for the answer as it may not be what you are expecting or hoping for.
Paternity test - the father
It can be quite straightforward to trace the mother of an adopted child but tracing the father can be more difficult. Start with the man named as the father on the birth certificate, which may or may not be accurate. The father may not even know that he has a child, in which case he may deny all responsibility and may also refuse to take the paternity test. It is illegal to remove DNA from someone for testing without their consent, so the father needs to be persuaded to take a paternity test in order to prove or disprove the relationship.
Best case scenario is that an adopted child will find both parents and both a maternity and paternity test will prove biological parenthood in both cases. This not only forms the basis of a new relationship but may also help with the diagnosis of inherited diseases and other traits in the child. |
